Canadian Armed Forces – Land Force

A ghost of the army that captured Vimy Ridge in WW1 and beat the 1 SS Panzer Corps in Normandy, the Land Force consists of 3 Regular Army Mechanized Infantry Brigades (3 Infantry Battalions, 1 Armored Regiment, 1 Close Support Medium Artillery Regiment, 1 VLLAD Battery) and 10 Light Infantry Brigades (all reservists consisting 2 Light Infantry Battalions (2 companies each) 1 Light Armour Regiment (of 2 FSV Cougar Squadrons and 1 Recce Squadron ( Jeeps with MMG)), 1 Light Artillery Regiment (of 2 batteries of towed 105mm C3 howitzers) and 1 Field Engineer Squadron and 1 VLLAD Battery)) 4^th Engineer Support Regiment, 1 Signals Regiment and 4^th  Air Defense Regiment.  At full war mobilization (and given time to buy the equipment) there should be troops for 4 divisions of mechanized infantry.

Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Commands 3 Infantry battalions, 1 Armored Regiment and 1 Artillery Regiment)

            HQ                                           1 HQ

Bde Recce Squadron               5 Coyote

Bde Anti-Armour Company      5 LAV/TUA

Bde Air Defense Battery          6 M113, 6 Javelin

Note                                                                             Reserve brigades do not have an anti-armour company, use Jeep/MG in the reconnaissance squadron and truck in place of Bison in headquarters.

Canadian Armored Regiment

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

4 Armored Squadrons each     4 Leopard C1 or C2

Recce Troop                            2 Coyote

Note                                                                             One Squadron may be either Coyote or Cougar in place of Leopard.  Reserve Units use Cougar only.  Leopard C1 is a Leopard 1A4 and C2 is a Leopard 1A5 with the MEXAS upgrade armour package on Turret and Hull and a fire control system similar to M1 Abrams.

Canadian Mechanized Infantry Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

4 Mechanized Companies ea  3 LAV3, 3 Rifle, 1 Eryx

Anti Tank Platoon                    3 LAV/TUA

Mortar Platoon                         2 LAV/81M

Pioneer Platoon                      1 LAV, 1 Engr

            Recce Platoon                         2 Coyote

                                                            Note                                         In peacetime one battalion of a brigade contains a light infantry battalion of four infantry companies (two light infantry companies trained in Mountain and Arctic warfare, one company airmobile and one company airborne).  It is assumed that in wartime these units would be the basis for light, airmobile and airborne brigades but they are trained and can be used as mechanized infantry.  In peacetime, reserve infantry units have no support platoons and are pure infantry formations (1 headquarters and two companies in jeeps and trucks).

Canadian Close Support Medium Howitzer Regiment

4 Batteries each                       2 M109

OP Battery                               6 FAO

Note                                                                             This regiment has two batteries worth of 105mm LG1 howitzers (105H) towed by either AVGP or BV206 as a substitute to the M109 if operational conditions and terrain warrant.  Thus Canadian Artillery units have 6 batteries worth of equipment.  155H available after 2007.

Canadian Light Howitzer Regiment

2 Batteries each                       1 FAO, 2 105H, 2 Trucks

Note                                         Strictly, an army reserve unit.

Canadian Combat Engineer Regiment

HQ                                           1 HQ

Field Engineer Squadron        5 Bison, 5 Engr

Armored Engr Squadron          4 M113, 3 Engr, 1 Engr, 1 AVLB, 1 AEV

Canadian Air Defense Regiment

HQ                                           1 HQ

VSHORAD Battery                    6 M113, 6 Javelin          

ADATS Battery                         6 ADATS          

Canadian Armored Regiment 1953 to 1979

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 Ferret

3 Armored Squadrons each     4 Centurion 105

Recce Troop                            2 Ferret

Canadian Armored Recce Regiment 1967 to 1979

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

2 Recce Squadrons each         4 Lynx

1 Recce Squadron                   4 Ferret

Note                                                                             This unit served as divisional troops, the exact unit was 8^th Canadian Hussars (Regular Force not the Reserve Force 8^th CH (PL))

Canadian Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1970 to 1999

HQ                                           1 HQ

4 Mechanized Companies ea  3 M113, 3 Rifle

Anti Tank Platoon                    3 M113/TOW

Mortar Platoon                         2 81M, 2 Truck

Pioneer Platoon                      1 M113, 1 Engr

            Recce Platoon                         2 Jeep, 2 Recon

                                                            Note                                         All Regular Force battalions in Germany were organized this way.  1964 to 1970 use M113/106 in place of M113/TOW.  1984 Recce platoon is 2 Lynx only and add 2 M113 to mortar platoon for Germany based units (deleting the 2 Truck). 1988 add TUA and delete M113/TOW. 

Canadian Infantry Battalion 1970 to 1979

HQ                                           1 HQ

2 Infantry Companies ea          3 Rifle, 3 Truck

1 Mechanized Companies ea  3 M113, 3 Rifle

Anti Tank Platoon                    3 Jeep/TOW

Mortar Platoon                         2 81M, 2 Truck

Pioneer Platoon                      1 Truck, 1 Engr

            Recce Platoon                         2 Jeep, 2 Recon

                                                            Note                                         All Regular Force battalions in Canada were organized this way.  After 1980 2 battalions became mechanized as Germany and the remainder became motorized with AVGP APC.  1960 to 1970 use Jeep/106 in place of Jeep/TOW.  1988 add TUA and delete M113/TOW

Division – 3 or 4 Brigades can come together under a Headquarters to form a Division, add 1 Engineer Support Regiment, 1 Signals Regiment and 1 Air Defense Regiment as Division Troops.